Krystian Zimerman's shocking Disney Hall debut

Poland's Krystian Zimerman, widely regarded as one of the finest pianists in the world, created a furor Sunday night in his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall when he announced this would be his last performance in America because of the nation's military policies overseas.

Before playing the final work on his recital, Karol Szymanowski’s "Variations on a Polish Folk Theme," Zimerman sat silently at the piano for a moment, almost began to play, but then turned to the audience. In a quiet but angry voice that did not project well, he indicated that he could no longer play in a country whose military wants to control the whole world. 

“Get your hands off of my country,” he said.  He also made reference to the U.S. military detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  

About 30 or 40 people in the audience walked out, some shouting obscenities.  “Yes,” he answered, “some people when they hear the word military start marching.”

Others remained but booed or yelled for him to shut up and play the piano.  But many more cheered.  Zimerman responded by saying that America has far finer things to export than the military, and he thanked those who support democracy.

For the first half of the recital, Zimerman had played a Bach Partita and Beethoven’s last piano sonata, Opus 111, with firm determination.  After intermission he made a last minute substitution, exchanging late Brahms works for a 1953 sonata by Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz.  The Szymanowski variations, which closed the program, was played with an astonishing ferocity that brought nothing but tumultuous cheers.  There was no encore.

The pianist was not available after the concert for further comment.

Zimerman has had problems in the United States in recent years.  He travels with his own Steinway piano, which he has altered himself.  But shortly after 9/11, the instrument was confiscated at JFK Airport when he landed in New York to give a recital at Carnegie Hall.  Thinking the glue smelled funny, the TSA decided to take no chances and destroyed the instrument.  Since then he has shipped his pianos in parts, which he reassembles by hand after he lands.  He also drives the truck himself when he carries his instrument from city to city over land, as he did after playing a recital in Berkeley on Friday.

MONDAY UPDATE: Review: Krystian Zimerman's controversial appearance at Disney Hall 

TUESDAY UPDATE: What led to Krystian Zimerman's surprising comments, walkouts

-- Mark Swed

Photo: Krystian Zimerman in 2005. Credit: Kasslara.

Comments

[biff]

The hedline linking to this is wrong. He didn't make "anti-U.S.comments" he was not talking about U.S. trade policy or is feelings about the inequities of the various Federal Reserve banks or any other number of things. he was speaking of the United States horrible militaristic aggression over the past 8 years. If, any of those bright lights who marched out at the first sign of dissent ever travel outside the US, they'll get much more than that. He's right and the truth hurts.

[MAGGIE]

"If it wasn't for our military, Mr. Zimerman, your country would still be under the iron fist of the Soviet Union."

Posted by: Guy Thompto | April 27, 2009 at 06:12 AM

YOU BRAINWASHED AMERICANS....THE ENTIRE WORLD IS MAKING FUN OF YOUR IGNORANCE.Aren't YOU under the"" iron fist " of political propaganda?

NO furtherCOMMENTS...

[Aurea]

Why when people that has the chance to voice their opinion in regards of our Country invading other Countries or imposing our military forces like we all know then they forgot about "THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH" and they are easy to get mad, offend and disrespect the person who expreses his or her thoughts
especially whe it's stating nothing but the TRUTH, the people that made negative
comments about Mr. KRYSTIANIE should first get educated in the Polish Culture,
and their History, that way perhaps you'll be able to understand him, by the way have you ever wonder why do we have military bases all over the world? Italy, Gemany, Japan etc...we should work towards PEACE and forget about keep trying to control the entire world, so all the majority of Countries will stop hating us, we should mind our own business!!, by the way I'm not Polish but I have a daughter that is Mexican/Polish and together we are learning more about this Wonderful Country and it's People so that she can be PROUD of having the blood of a Polish hard working man like her Dad in her veins.
PS. Visit and learn more about this marvelous Country.
BRAVO MR. KRYSTIANI==BRAWO PAN KRYSTIANIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rico]

' ... Poland wouldn't exist without the US military." ???

Are you serious??? Poland has been around since before the end of the first millenia! It used to be one of the greatest empires of Europe (9XX-15XX) with shores touching 3 seas! Try the US wouldn't exist without Poland's help! Who came to the US's aid first in Afganistan & Iraq pal?!?

[dave]

Powerful artists have powerful opinions, it comes with the territory and shows we live in a fair country and while tsa destroyed his piano for no good reason, he is free to come and go without the U.S. sending him to Gitmo. although i would not put it passed the last administration to do just that.We will suffer world fall out for a very long time to come from our last president.

[imrubio]

Politics aside, Zimmerman's actions reveal a much more flawed character. He could have refused to perform in America much earlier on but instead, he stages a performance, takes America's money, then makes his political statement. Since he is using his U.S. performance to make a statement against America, he should refund all the attendee's money because his reason for performing are misguided.

[Mike_S]

Anyone who travels outside the US knows our Customs/Immigration folks are, by and large, the most disrespectful and arrogant customer/immigration officials in the modern world. It is pathetic when Americana are treated more courteously and humanely at airports in Bahrain and France than at LAX, JFK or Dulles. TSA destroyed this guy's prized piano. I'm surprised he ever came back to the US after that welcoming.

The guy spoke a view unfortunately shared by many overseas. Yes, he doesn't speak German because of America's valor a 1/2 century ago. But he shouldn't be humiliated and have his legitimate personal belongings destroyed when he comes here to visit either. Bashing him in a blog won't make these unfortunate, butt common, world perceptions go away. Building fences won't help either. IIt takes active participation in communities and with Congress.

[Rico]

... and as far as US military policy goes, it is screwed. The last and current administration don't care about the freedoms of the nations we are involved in. It is all about $$$. Obama hasn't changed anything that Bush was doing. Obama is still running for president! Why? ... to get $$$ for his political party now. If we cared, we'd be in Somalia, and fixing Darfur ... or hey, here's a novel idea - open the border with Cuba, get the democratic ties strengthened and let communism fall there!

[Not Buying It]

MORE PEOPLE IN THESE POSITIONS NEED TO SPEAK UP/STAND UP AND WAKE UP THE SHEEPLE!!!!

WW3 Has Started and WE are Their Enemy!

Be Warned :: Their Most Powerful and Effective Weapons Do NOT Go Bang!

We are being Attacked with Biological Warfare!!!

Swine Flu,Aspartame,Chemtrails,Flouride etc etc etc.

The War is on YOU!

Choose A Side!

[Wade]

I can totally relate. I've had the same problems traveling with my Steinway piano.

[Agata]

"Mr Lemanski and Mr Thompto, writing this, you only show how ignorant you are. Where did you study history?"

If they went to school in USA they didn't study history per se. The only "history" they study is American history that teaches USA is responsible for a positive outcome of all historical events world wide. So they didn't even have to ever heard that USA had brought democracy to Poland, they just assume so. Geography is also not very popular in USA, so who knows where Poland really is ?

On the other hand, being Polish I am not proud of Mr. Zimmerman's action. He should have refused coming to USA when he was invited if he doesn't wish to perform in that country. If he was already there he should have shut up and plan the piano, concert is not a political event.

[Jean Sebastian]

The ProvocatioN - is one of the finest tools of modern artist. Indeed, he didn't offend American Nation, he performed unique spectacle. What is more he succeed - the debate is know on people's mouth.

Money issue - I can ensure you that the greatest audience (and earnings), is currently in Japan and few Europe countries. Where money is not an obstacle...

At the end -- for God Sake don't tell that America had influence on Eastern Block transformation - belive those who lived through this nightmare ... There is only one key-word "Solidarnosc".

[Agata]

play the piano that is... sorry

[Amara]

I was completely unaware that we had our hands ON his country...heck, we barely pay them any mind when they're 'army' is helping us! ("He forgot POLAND!"- GW Bush 9/30/04) so...what exactly does he mean by that?

the last I heard about Poland, THEY were begging US to remember that we promised them a missile shield and that NATO agreements require us to build a missile defense base on Polish land.

If Mr. Zimerman wants the US to abrogate its agreement to provide missile protection for his country, he should be whining to his own government.

[Kurt]

Whether Zimerman's beliefs are right or wrong do not seem to be the point here. He chose a completely inappropriate time to voice them to an audience who had come to hear him play, not expound on politics.

If he felt so strongly about this for all of this time, why did he agree to play here at all? He should be ordered to refund the ticket prices for everyone who had to sit through his nonsense. There is really no excuse for such bad behavior.

[polish kid]

What he meant by "Get your hands off of my country” ? which one Mr Zimmerman, you dont live in Poland anymore, so .. just play piano and enjoy the music. Do your best - you are wonderful musician.

[AdoptiveFather, Los Angeles CA]

One question for all of you that support this moron that seems to conveniently forgotten about Polish capitulation to the nazis and salvation by US military.

Here's the question:

What do you do RIGHT NOW about taliban edging toward Pakistan's nukes?

Many of you are swept up in the peace and love bullcrap from the comfort of your couch and tv remote control. Unfortunately the world isn't prone to the same.

9/11 wasn't enough to convince you aabout the dangers so you keep backsliding until the day we have an attack that hits your home or your family.

They you will be the first to scream why didn't somebody do something. Fools.

[J]

curtis lemanski: Hugh Grant may in fact be a product of the American school system!

[Observer]

But I do care, and he is right.

Why do we need to put a military base with missles in Poland?

For the future Iranian nuclear missle? No, that missle will not get off the ground and will be destroyed before it launches.

The missles in Poland are there to influence the region in an Empirialistic fashion.

Those that think he doesnt matter. Well your eyes must have a lot of sand in them from living your life in hiding from reality.

[call_me_cassandra]

Hey, Greg, although you may not have seen U.S. intervention in freeing your country from the Soviet Union, just check out some history and you'll find that President Reagan's policies of calling the USSR's bluff militarily pretty much brought that regime to its knees. Without Reagan;s support of Solidarity etc you might not be so free to express your opinion.